Firebrand City Councilman Charles Barron blasted the appointment of his former colleague David Yassky to head the Taxi and Limousine Commission as a political reward for Yasskys support of the term limits extension in 2008.

“We have to be cautious of any appearance of any perception of the mayor awarding people that supported him on term limits or any other vote in this Council,” Barron (D-Brooklyn) said during a City Council meeting this afternoon.

Barron abstained; everyone else voted in favor of the appointment.

“While David Yassky may have some hidden expertise that I didnt know about in terms of dealing with the TLC I think we should be very, very careful on how we award people that the mayor appoints to commissions when they have a longstanding history in this City Council.”

Yassky was a critical vote in favor of legally extending term limits so Mayor Bloomberg could run a third time.

Other Council members said the new job is a good for Yassky, a liberal Brooklyn activist.